Arsenal are looking to move in for Houssem Aouar in the summer

Lyon has a history of having at least one player emerge from their academy who becomes a constant fixture in their team.

While Nabil Fekir and Memphis Depay are earning plaudits for their consistently brilliant performances for the Olympique Lyonnais, a 19 year old starlet from their academy has Barcelona and Liverpool fluttering their eyelashes.

Although he only made his Ligue 1 debut off the bench last April, he’s quickly became a key member of Bruno Genesio’s side with four goals and 2 assists, pushing more experienced players like Jordan Ferri and even Memphis Depay, to the bench at times.

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Being of Algerian descent, and along with his velvet footed gameplay, has earned him comparisons to the great Zinedine Zidane, who he considers a role model, along with Juninho, a legend in the era of the Lyon dominance in Ligue 1.

According to L’Equipe, Barcelona are keen to make a move before Aouar attracts more suitors and have already got in touch with the player’s representative to test the water over a potential future transfer.

Aouar is a player who has long been on the radar of many top European clubs with Liverpool tried to sign him before he turned professional with Lyon, and he remains linked with the Merseyside club. Liverpool have plenty of cash in their pocket following Philippe Coutinho’s sale to Barcelona for £145 million in the January transfer window.

And there are few young talents in world football who have the potential to fill the void left by the Reds’ departed number 10, but Aouar is definitely one of them.